Adjustable inclination cover arrangement for large receptacles



July 30, 1968 FORNI ET AL 3,394,833

ADJUSTABLE INCLINATION COVER ARRANGEMENT FOR LARGE RECEPTACLES Filed Jan. 5, 1966 INVENTORS GEORGE P FORM! 6 By 650%: D. FORNI TTORNEYS United States Patent 3,394,833 ADJUSTABLE INCLINATION COVER ARRANGE- MENT FOR LARGE RECEPTACLES George P. Forni and George D. Forni, both of R0. Box 248, Clayton, Calif. 94517 Filed Jan. 3, 1966, Ser. No. 518,416 6 Claims. (Cl. 220-18) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A heavy receptacle is described of the type typically formed of concrete and adapted to be sunk in the ground beneath a street or the like. The receptacle is provided with an arrangement permitting adjustable inclination of the top cover receiving frame relative to the rest of the receptacle so that the cover may be positioned level with a street irrespective of the orientation of the receptacle in the ground. A flange which depends downwardly from the top frame has elongated notches for the reception of bolts which are threadably secured into the side wall of the receptacle. By properly orienting the cover frame relative to the receptacle before the bolts are tightened, the desired inclination of the top frame and, hence, the cover is obtained. In another embodiment of the invention, the side walls of the frame have vertical channels in which nuts are slidably disposed. Bolts pass through the depending flange on the cover frame and are threadably received within the nuts. By properly orienting the vertical positioning of the nuts before the bolts are securely tightened, the desired inclination is also obtained.

This invention relates to large, very heavy receptacles of the type typically formed of concrete and adapted to be sunk in the ground beneath a street or the like to house electrical junction boxes, terminal strips, valves, meters, etc., and is particularly directed to a receptacle of this type provided with an adjustable inclination cover which permits positioning of the cover level with the street or equivalent ground surface irrespective of the orientation of the receptacle in the ground.

Massive box-like receptacles of concrete, or the like, are extensively employed in conjunction with underground utility systems to house various components such as electrical junction boxes, terminal strips, valves, meters, etc., in a protected, yet accessible manner. More particularly, the receptacles are generally lowered into an excavation in the ground beneath the level of a street, or the like, a derrick or equivalent means being required for this purpose by virtue of the substantial weight of the receptacle. It is extremely diflicult, if not impossible, to thus orient the receptacle within the excavation in a plumb or other desired position relative to the ground surface wherein the cover of the receptacle will be level with respect thereto when placed flush on the upper rim of the receptacle. Even when a conventional receptacle is originally placed in appropriate position such that its cover is level with the ground surface, the cover may be ultimately inclined relative thereto as a result of subsequent settling of the receptacle in the ground.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide massive underground receptacles having covers which are adjustable in inclination such that they may be set in level positions with respect to a ground surface irrespective of the positions of the receptacles within the ground.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an underground receptacle which features a cover supporting frame and means for securing the frame to the receptacle in varied inclined positions to in turn facilitate support of the cover in desired positions relative to the ground surface.

It is a further object of the invention to provide massive receptacle adjustable inclination cover structure of the class described which is of relatively simple economical design.

The invention possesses other objects and features of advantage, some of which, with the foregoing, will be set forth in the following description of the preferred form of the invention which is illustrated in the drawings accompanying and forming part of the specification. It is to be understood, however, that variations in the showing made by the said drawings and description may be adopted Within the scope of the invention as set forth in the claims.

FIGURE 1 is an exploded perspective view of a receptacle having adjustable inclination cover structure in accordance with the present invention.

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary sectional view illustrating the adjustable inclination cover structure in one of its inclined positions selected to level the cover with respect to a reference plane.

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view of a slot provided in a cover support frame of the inclination adjusting structure and an associated bolt carried by a side wall of the receptacle for engagement with the slot to function as an inclination adjusting mechanism.

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view through a side wall of the receptacle illustrating means for threadably receiving the bolt, and the bolt in operative association with the cover support frame.

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of modified form of inclination adjusting mechanism for the cover support frame.

FIGURE 6 is a sectional view taken at line 66 of FIGURE 5, and with the support frame in operative association with the mechanism.

FIGURE 7 is a perspective view of a slide element of the modified adjusting mechanism.

Referring now to FIGURE 1, there is shown a massive receptacle 11 of the type adapted to be sunk into the ground beneath a street or other ground surface. Typically, these receptacles serve to house various components of underground utility systems, such as junction boxes, terminal strips, meters, valves, etc. The receptacle 11 includes a body 12 which is preferably of rectangular boxlike configuration and formed of concrete. The body is thus defined by a rectangular bottom wall and marginal side wall 13 upstanding therefrom. The receptacle further includes a cover 14 substantially conformed to the upper rim 16 of the body and removably secured in closing relation thereto. Unlike conventional receptacles, the receptacle 11 of the present invention is provided with means for securing the cover 14 to the body 12 with adjustable inclination relative to the rim 16. Thus, as shown in FIGURE 2, the body 12 may be disposed in the ground at an angle to a ground level plane 17. The cover 14, however, may be secured to the body in inclined relation to the rim to compensate for the inclined disposition of the body. In this manner, the cover as secured to the body is made level with respect to the ground plane 17.

Considering now the adjustable inclination securing means in greater detail, such means will be seen to preferably include a cover support frame 18 conformed to the rim 16 of the body 12 and arranged to support the cover 14. Adjustable securing means are employed to secure the frame to the body with adjustable inclination relative to the rim. More particularly, the frame is provided centrally with a depending rectangular skirt 19 adapted to engage the inner periphery of the marginal side wall 13 of the body. The frame is provided outwardly with a rectangular flange 21 adapted to overlie the rim 16. The skirt and frame are interconnected by means of a shoulder 22 outwardly flared from the skirt and recessed from the flange. Such shoulder serves to support the cover 14 in substantially flush relation to the flange. Adjustable inclination securance of the frame to the body is then advantageously facilitated by means of vertically elongated openings in the form of inwardly tapered notches 23 extending into the skirt at spaced positions. More particularly, two parallel spaced-apart side portions 24 are each provided with a pair of notches respectively adjacent the opposite ends thereof. The notches are traversed by bolts 26 which are tightened into bolt receiving means 27 embedded in the marginal side wall 13 of the body 12. As shown in FIGURE 4, the bolt receiving means are preferably in the form of a nut element having a body 28 with a tapped bore 29 extending therethrough and provided with an eye 31 at one end normal to the bore. The end of the nut body having the eye is embedded in the side wall of the receptacle body and a reenforcing rod 32 embedded therein traverses the eye to securely anchor the nut element in position. Hence, the bolts 26 may be threaded into the tapped bores 29 of the embedded nut elements. The frame 18 is adjusted to position the notches 23 for traversal by the bolts at different positions along the lengths of the notches which provide the desired inclination relative to the rim 16 of the body 12, and the bolts are tightened to engage their heads 33 against the skirt 19 on opposite sides of the notches and thereby maintain the inclined position of the frame. In this connection, it will be noted that the notches have a greater transverse dimension in the vertical direc tion than the dimension at the cross-sectional diameter of the bolts to permit the necessary vertical movement of the bolts within the notches. For an example of an adjusted position, as shown in FIGURE 2, the bolts may traverse the inner ends of the notches at one end of the frame, and traverse the outer ends of the notches at the other end of the frame. In this manner, the frame is secured in inclined position relative to the rim 16 of body 12, as shown. Access to the bolts 26 during the adjusting process is provided through the central opening of the frame. With the frame secured in position, the cover 14 is placed upon the recessed shoulder 22.

It will be appreciated that with the embodiment of the invention just described, the range of adjustability of the frame is dependent upon the length of the notches 23 and therefore the depth of the skirt 19. A relatively deep skirt is hence required in order to provide substantial adjustability. A Wide range of adjustment can be provided with a relatively shallow skirt by employment of a modified form of adjustable inclination securing means as illustrated in FIGURES -7. More particularly, a channel member 34 is embedded in the marginal side wall 13 of the receptacle body 12 adjacent each end of a pair of parallel spaced-apart portions thereof. The channel member includes parallel spaced side legs 36 interconnected at one end by a web 37 extending therebetween. Outwardly flared flanges 38 project from the side legs at positions of alignment with the web. The flanges serve to securely anchor the channel members in embedded vertically extending positions in the side wall of the receptacle body with the side legs 36 facing toward the body interior. The free ends of the side legs are formed with normally projecting opposed flanges 39 parallel to, and spaced from the web. The flanges 39 define a slot 41 therebetween and are preferably provided with lips 42 projecting right angularly towards the web. Within each channel member there is provided a rectangular slide element 43 having a tapped bore 44 adjacent the slot. A compression spring 46 secured to the slide and engaging the web resiliently urges the slide into engagement with the lips 42. A pair of diagonally opposed corners of the slide element are rounded, as indicated at 47, to facilitate introduction of the slide element to the channel interior through the slot 41. The slide element is slidable within the channel and resiliently retained at varied positions thereof by means of the spring 46. The slide element is provided with roughened portions 48 for engagement with the lips 42 to assist in retaining the slide element in selected positions in the channel element.

To secure the frame 18 to the slide elements 43 within the channel members 34, bolts 49 extend through apertures 51 provided in side portions 24 of the skirt 19 and threadably engage the bores 44. The slide elements may be vertically positioned within the respective channel members to appropriately incline the frame as desired. The bolts 49 are then tightened to force the roughened portions 48 of the slide elements into intimate engagements with the lip 42. The slide elements are thus rigidly secured in the selected positions within the channel members to maintain the desired inclination of the frame.

What is claimed is:

1. A receptacle comprising a massive body having a bottom wall and marginal side wall upstanding therefrom, a frame substantially conformed to the rim of said side wall for supporting a cover, means for securing said frame to said marginal side wall adjacent said rim for adjustable inclination relative thereto, said means comprising an integral skirt depending from said frame and in close adjacent relation to the periphery of said marginal side wall, one of said skirt and said side wall having openings extending therethrough at spaced positions thereof, bolt receiving means carried by the other of said skirt and said side wall in alignment with said openings, bolt means extending through each of said elongated openings and threadably secured to said receiving means, each of said openings having a greater transverse dimension in the vertical direction than the cross-sectional dimension of the bolt means passing therethrough to permit vertical adjustment of said frame relative to said body at each of said openings, said bolt means maintaining said skirt in an adjusted position relative to said receptacle side wall, and a cover supported by said frame.

2. A receptacle comprising a massive body having a bottom wall and marginal side wall upstanding therefrom, a frame substantially conformed to the rim of said side wall for supporting a cover, means for securing said frame to said marginal side wall adjacent said rim for adjustable inclination relative thereto, a cover supported by said frame, said means for securing said frame comprising an integral skirt of said frame depending into said body in close adjacent relation to the inner periphery of said marginal side wall, said skirt having a plurality of vertically extending channel members secured to the inner periphery of said side wall at spaced positions thereof, each of said channel members having parallel spaced apart side legs with opposed flanges projecting therefrom and defining a slot therebetween, a plurality of slide elements respectively slidably disposed in said channel members, each of said slide elements having a tapped bore opposite said slot of said channel member in which it is disposed, and a plurality of bolts extending through said apertures and threadably engaging said bores of said slide elements to tighten same against said flanges of said channel members.

3. A receptacle according to claim 2, further defined by said flanges having lips projecting right-angularly into said channels on opposite sides of said slots thereof, said slide elements being rectangular with a pair of diagonally opposed rounded corners, said slide elements having roughened portions engageable with said lips, and coil springs secured to said slide elements and engaging said channels to resiliently urge said slide elements into engagement with said lips.

4. A receptacle comprising a massive body having a bottom wall and marginal side wall upstanding therefrom, a frame substantially conformed to the rim of said side wall for supporting a cover, means for securing said frame to said marginal side walls adjacent said rim for adjustable inclination relative said frame comprising an integral skirt of said frame depending into said body in close adjacent relation to the inner periphery of said marginal side wall, said skirt having inwardly tapered notches extending thereinto at spaced positions thereof, bolt receiving means carried by said side Walls, bolts threadably secured to said receiving means and engaging said knots, said body being of concrete, and said bolt receiving means each comprising a nut element including a body with a tapped bore extending therethrough and an eye at one end normal to the bore, said nut element disposed with the end of the body thereof including said eye embedded in said marginal side wall, and a reenforcing rod embedded in said side wall and traversing said eye.

5. A receptacle comprising a massive body having a bottom wall and marginal side wall upstanding therefrom, a frame substantially conformed to the rim of said side wall for supporting a cover, means for securing said frame to said marginal side wall adjacent said rim for adjustable inclination relative thereto, a cover supported by said frame, said body being of concrete and of rectangular box-like configuration, said frame being rectangular and having an outwardly flared rectangular flange and a depending skirt for engaging the inner periphery of said side wall, said frame including a shoulder interconnecting said skirt and flange, said shoulder outwardly flared from said skirt and recessed from said flange, said cover supported on said shoulder, said skirt having a pair of parallel spaced side portions each having inwardly tapered notches extending thereinto adjacent the opposite ends thereof, threaded bolt receiving means embedded in said side wall of said body, and bolts extending through said notches and engaging said receiving means, said bolts having heads engaging portions of said skirt adjacent said notches.

6. A receptacle comprising a massive body having a bottom wall and marginal side wall upstanding therefrom, a frame substantially conformed to the rim of said side wall for supporting a cover, means for securing said frame to said marginal side wall adjacent said rim for adjustable inclination relative thereto, a cover supported by said frame, said body being of concrete and of rectangular box-like configuration, said frame being rectangular and having an outwardly flared rectangular flange and a depending skirt for engaging the inner periphery of said side Wall, said frame including a shoulder interconnecting said skirt and flange, said shoulder outwardly flared from said skirt and recessed from said flange, said cover supported on said shoulder, said skirt having a pair of parallel space-d side portions each having an aperture adjacent each of the opposite ends thereof, a pair of channel members respectively disposed adjacent the opposite ends of each of a pair of parallel opposed side portions of said side wall of said body, said channels embedded in said side wall in vertically extending positions and having inwardly facing parallel spaced-apart side legs with opposed flanges projecting normally therefrom and defining a slot therebetween, a plurality of slide elements respectively slidably disposed in said channel members, each slide element having a tapped bore opposite said slot of the channel member in which it is disposed, and a plurality of bolts extending through said apertures and threadably engaging said bores of said slide elements to tighten same against said flanges of said channel members.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS JAMES B. MARBERT, Primary Examiner. 

